Mated to the Alpha and His Beta

Chapter 126
Braden
I threw a bundle of clothes at Lanie’s feet.
“There,” I said. “You can shift now, gorgeous.”
I spun around and faced the trees,
I won’t even look. Even though the last time I saw you, you didn’t seem to mind….
There was a rustling sound behind me, and then her voice.
“I don’t know who the f uck you think I am, but you’ve got it all wrong,” she said.
I turned around to face her. If I’d had breath to lose, it would’ve been gone. I’d forgotten how unbelievably
beautiful she was, even in my sweats and a hoodie.
That cinn amon hair, all long and wild, that perfect face, that intoxicating scent, and the way her nose
wrinkled when she was irritated.
Which she obviously was right now.
Her arms were crossed, and her hip was co cked to one side.
“You’re kidding, right? Or is this all part of your disappearing act?” I asked, studying her face for signs
that she was joking.
But she just looked confused.

“I don’t know what act you’re talking about.” She lifted her arm and inhaled, then stuck out her tongue ast
if gagging
“What, the clothes aren’t to your liking?”
She shook her head. “No, they just smell like vampire.
now are you?”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Oh, so you’re holding that against me now,
“What do you mean “now”?” she asked. “I don’t know who the hell you are or why you think you know who I
am”
I thought back to the last time I’d spoken to a shifter I talked to Gabriela shortly after Lanie had been freed from Aldon’s prison, and she told me that Lanie had disappeared herself and would be laying low
indefinitely.
With the Council sniffing around Constantine and on high alert for vampires, Lanie thought it was too dangerous to stay in the territory as a hybrid.
This woman standing in front of me looked like the Lanie I’d known, but she really seemed to have no clue at all who I was. She was either an incredible actress or something very strange was going on.
1/3
“You really don’t have any idea who I am, do you?” I asked her.
She glared at me. “Did I not just say that?”
Da mn, she was still as fiery as I remembered her being.
“I’m Braden. We were friends once,” I said carefully, not sure how she would take this news.
Her brows knitted together. “Were we really?”
Did she actually not remember? Had the Constantines done something to her?
“Yes,” I said. “We met here another time when you were feeling…distressed.”
She stuck her bottom lip out. I wanted to sink my teeth into it.
“How did you know I’m distressed?” she asked me warily.
Tve to
told you before, I can smell you from a mile away” I told her. “More boy troubles this time?”
She scoffed. “That’s none of your business!”
“Til take that as a yes.”
She grunted a non-response.
I’d missed winding her up like this.
“Man, this is just like the first time we met,” I said.